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62 the house if you're afraid that it might reflect on Edith, but there's no need for you to go away. Give this crook lady to understand that she's got to leave you alone, then find yourself diggings up near the office and pitch into our motor business. There's a lot to be done in the way of introducing the car—advertising and all that. Besides, I've got quite a list of possible clients, and you will be busy taking them out over the road. Let's go ahead with our business and let the social part slide."

There was a certain amount of sense in this. As long as I kept away from the house, it didn't seem as if I could do them any special harm. So, for the time being, we decided to let it go at that.

I found myself quarters on a side street near the office and started in to work. Rather to my surprise, John proved himself a mighty good hustler for trade. He had a big acquaintance, both resident and amongst visiting Americans, and in the course of the first six weeks we booked quite a number of orders. Our car was a good one, silent as a watch, easy to handle, and constructed a bit on the American plan with a high clearance and light for the size and power, which made it easy on tires. I joined the Automobile Club and made quite a lot of useful acquaintances. I wrote to Léontine, telling her, briefly, of the course I'd taken, and asking her to make good in what she said about doing her part. She never answered the note, but I'll be hanged if she didn't come swelling into the office one day with Kharkoff and make him buy a car. John was tremendously tickled over this.